Dancer Wins $6 Million in Manhattan Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit

A professional dancer has received a verdict of $6 million dollars after successfully pursuing a slip-and-fall lawsuit in Manhattan. This incident shows how life-altering a fall can be, especially for those who enjoy active hobbies like dancing and running. If your quality of life has been diminished after a slip-and-fall, you might want to contact an experienced premises liability attorney in Manhattan.

Woman Sues After Slipping on Fish Guts in Manhattan

 In April of 2025, a woman received a verdict of $6.45 million after successfully suing a property owner for premises liability in Manhattan. This woman claimed that as she was walking past a grocery store on the Upper West Side, she slipped and fell on fish guts – causing a life-altering injury. The New York Post reports that this injury required 12 surgeries within the past decade.

Even with the surgeries, this victim lost access to some of her most beloved hobbies. These include bodybuilding, salsa dancing, and running. Specifically, she experienced a “total knee dislocation” plus three ruptured ligaments. Although this might not sound life-altering, medical professionals will tell you that these types of injuries can change your entire life – especially if you dislocate your knee as an older individual. The victim was 53 when the injury occurred in 2014 – and she was extremely active at the time.

She claims that although her knee never actually broke, it dislocated to the point where it turned in the completely wrong direction. She describes the injury as “cartoon-like,” comparing her knee to a piece of rubber. The victim also claims that the ER doctor was so shocked by her injury that he asked permission to take a picture.

It took her more than ten years to finally achieve some sense of closure and justice – and she was forced to go to trial. The property owner took a very combative approach at first – refusing to even apologize for the incident. In the end, the case went all the way to the Manhattan Supreme Court, and a jury found the grocery store 100% liable for the victim’s injuries.

What Is “Loss of Enjoyment of Life” After a Slip and Fall? 

This victim likely claimed a specific damage called “loss of enjoyment of life,” and this may partially explain the considerable verdict. This type of non-economic damage represents your loss of access to enjoyable, active pastimes like dancing, running, working out, hiking, and walking your dog. Although it is difficult to put a price on these activities, many victims who have experienced this damage feel that they have lost that which gives their life meaning.

Can a Manhattan Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Help Me Pursue a Settlement? 

This case shows that if you have slipped and fallen, it may be possible to pursue a significant settlement. A Manhattan slip-and-fall attorney can help you pursue your settlement, and this could provide some degree of justice after losing access to hobbies like dancing, running, and hiking. To learn more about your legal options, consider speaking with Cohan Law, PLLC today.

Sources: 

nypost.com/2025/04/11/us-news/dancer-who-slipped-on-fish-guts-at-citarella-gets-6m-verdict/

ilovetheupperwestside.com/salsa-dancer-awarded-6-45-million-after-slipping-on-fish-guts-outside-citarella/